//// SimplePostscript 0092

SimplePostscript is a Java class that can be used to output Adobe PostScript files, either from straight Java or from within Processing. It implements most of the basic PostScript functionality used for drawing. For an idea of the power of using PostScript for high-resolution images, take a look at these images created for a magazine article.

//// Changes 0092

Made into BETA-compliant library.
ellipse() and rect() now function as in Processing, even obeying rectMode and ellipseMode

//// Installation & use

Find the path where you extracted SimplePostscript. Copy the SimplePostscript folder into the "libraries" folder of your Processing installation. Upon restarting Processing SimplePostscript will be available as a public library from the "Import" menu.

See PStest.pde or PSandP5draw.pde for how to use the code, and the SimplePostscript documentation for an overview over the functions available. You can also look at the SimplePostscript.java file for details.

Comments, bugs etc. to marius--at--unlekker.net.

//// About PostScript

To understand how PostScript works, take a look at Zach Lieberman's introduction (see the heading PostScript .) Peter Weingarter has written a very useful PostScript tutorial. Download it as a ZIP file or read it online.

The full PostScript manual (aka the Red Book) is available from Adobe as a 7.4 MB PDF. Download it here. Other Adobe books can be downloaded here (I recommend the Blue Book file.) The Adobe Illustrator format is basically a less verbose version of PostScript with added functionality, and is described in this technical document from Adobe. Note that as of the Creative Studio version of Illustrator, Adobe is moving that format in a new direction but backward compatibility can be assumed.

For history and philosophy around PostScript, read this interview with Glenn Reid who wrote the book "Thinking in PostScript". He graciously makes that book available for download as PDF from Right Brain Software.